Spend 6 months building the confidence to finish the project that is biting, begging, tearing at you to be made
2022 is the year you join the SAW Graphic Novel Intensive
You Are Ready
This is your time to find the focus and tools to say, 'Yes! I am ready. I am here to bring my Graphic Novel to life.'
The Graphic Novel Development Intensive is what you need.
Here we bring together the combined widsom and experience of SAW instructors Tom Hart, Jess Ruliffson and Emma Jensen to provide you with inspiration, advice, critique, motivation and structured plan forward.
Through access to unique learning resources, a vibrant community and regular special events with comics professionals, you will gain insights into what it takes to realize your vision.
Make the decision to make your book happen.
"This course was so transformative, and it even saved my life."
Hear it directly from our 2020 students
Meet the Instructors with a combined 50+ Years of Experience and 1000s of Pages of Art Between Them
You will have the support of SAW's professionals who have been where you have been, felt what you have felt. Interact with them through the online community page, weekly Zoom check-ins and regular office hours.
Tom Hart is a champion of comics education who founded SAW in 2011 to be the comics school he never had. He has since released half a dozen graphic novels, instructional manuals and short comics, including his NY Times best selling graphic memoir, Rosalie Lightning.
Jess Ruliffson is an award-winning cartoonist who has lectured and taught workshops at The School of Visual Arts, The Drawing Center, and The Center for Cartoon Studies. In 2017, her work was shortlisted for Slate's Cartoonist Studio Prize. In 2022 her latest graphic novel, Invisible Wounds, will be released through Fantagraphics.
Emma Jensen is an Australian comics artist, editor and educator based in Gainesville, Florida. She came to SAW for the year long program in 2018. Since then she has self-published six zines, and has had her work included in Ink Brick and kus magazines.
Throughout the course we are also joined by various comics professionals who share their hard won wisdom of the comics industry. In 2021 alone that included Matt Madden, Annie Mok, Miranda Harmon, Katherine Woodman Maynard, Sam Alden, Sophie Yanow, Andi Santagata, Hannah McGill, Kriota Willberg and Casey Nowak.
Together we'll work through the steps of completing a graphic novel
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Honing in on your idea: Choosing what to work with.
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Parameters and Formats: What to focus on and aim for.
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Story and Structure: Using tools to compel the reader.
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Keeping Going: How to find the energy to keep going.
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Planning the Finish: Making a plan for the upcoming weeks, months or whatever it takes!
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Publishing and Sharing: Lots of stories about how to wrap it up for the world.
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Reflection: Learning from what you have experienced and accomplished.
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Accountability: weekly zoom calls with instructors and peers!
Regular price: $899.00
We don't like to leave anyone behind. If you need help with your tuition, message us below.
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Sign Me Up!
$899.00
Regular price
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Sign Me Up!
6 x $159.00
6 payments of at $159
What do our students from 2020 have to say?
Important questions answered here
FAQ
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How does this differ from the Online Certificate Program?
This program is focused on a single project.
The online certificate program is more of an exploratory, tool-building, voice-finding program.
When you have some tools and a sense of your voice and project, then you are ready or this! -
Do I Need To Have Started My Graphic Novel Already?
No! We understand (boy, do we!) how hard it is to START.
But you should have some idea of what the project is, and be eager to start. We will hold you accountable, but YOU have to do the work. Accountability, group discussion and critique is a lot of what this program is about.
We will ask you to show up, again and again and again. -
What is time commitment like?
The time commitment is entirely up to you. We can't make the book for you. ;) As with most programs of this kind, the people that get the most out of it put the most in. You have to find a rhythm that works for you. As for interacting in the group, you can get away with as little or as much as you like as well. We know life gets in the way and feel that if you can devote 3-5 hours a week at a minimum, you should be able to some progress.
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Is this all pre-recorded or live or what?
All the structural materials are prerecorded or otherwise in the course materials. The community is open 24/7 and Tom and Emma will be in it daily. Additionally, we meet weekly via Zoom. Either Tom or Emma will be on each of these, with one call per month featuring a professional cartoonist, editor or creator. We're really excited about the line up! In 2020 we hosted Leela Corman, Leslie Stein, Carol Tyler, Robin Chapman and many more!
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What is the schedule for the Zoom calls?
The calls will be weekly, alternating 2 pm and 8 pm Eastern on Tuesdays. They are not mandatory and are recorded.
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Will Emma, Tom or anybody at SAW be able to read my 300-page graphic novel?
No, not in its entirety. We can only read short-story sized excerpts at the scale of this program.
Our main personal offering is an ability to help you see the whole project in context, the motivation and some strategy to work on it, and editorial feedback and critiquing help where needed.
If you want more in-depth feedback, or editorial services for the entire project, please look to our 1-on-1 consulting page. -
Is there a materials list?
There is no materials list. This course is for people already working on something in a medium they are comfortable with. For people who are looking to change their practice, we can help them figure out the best materials to help them reach their goals.
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What will the discussions in the Mighty Network be like?
Emma and/or Tom plan on being in the discussion group at least every other day. The online community works best with investment from the cohort of students all working on similar problems and challenges together. We are excited to guide the discussions in important and valuable ways, and give direct feedback to the work that is shared there.
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It says Apply Now. What does that mean?
We want to make sure the course is the right fit for you and for us. If we aren't already in touch with you, please email us if you want to share what you want to be working on so we can make sure we can serve you.